This ‘Saving San Pedro’ Group Is Dedicated to Bashing on Homeless Folks and Advertising Their Presence

Above: a man tries to cover his face while being randomly photographed by Saving San Pedro user Mike Walker while Walker was driving. Posted in October of 2016.

A recent post in the Saving San Pedro Facebook group from member George Matthews read as excited as he presumedly was for having hauled away the belongings of a person experiencing homelessness: “…We kicked some homeless butt! As mentioned! Abandoned homeless shit? Gone with the wind! 19th and Pacific!”

In all frankness, it would be hard not to understand someone wanting to protect their neighborhood, at least reasonably.

It becomes a concern, for anyone with a heart, when an increase in homelessness, apparent upticks in drug use and crime, and unchecked mental illness runs astray. Any sane and caring person cares about these things—and surely, an odd insensitivity toward these issues are bound to occur here and there.

The group has succeeded in coalescing concerned folks and, outside of the way it addresses homelessness, supposedly achieved things like getting criminals arrested; achievements that are, if anything, overshadowed by their obsession with mockery.

These aren’t random quips of idiocy paired with an overall mission to better the lives of those at the bottom of the well; the aforementioned post isn’t the sole incident of the group celebrating “kicking homeless butt” or mocking and outright downsizing the lives of those most on the margin. The group has become an enclave whose administrators proudly proclaim to “Surround yourself with people who get it”—and by get it, the group is typically referring to an unabashed, non-permissive advertising of those experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, or both, all paired with a healthy dose of xenophobia, anti-infrastructure, blame on others, and fear mongering at its finest.

Perhaps one of the most perturbing aspects of the group is its unabashed photos of taking photos of folks that are either knowingly or unknowinglyexperiencing homelessness, of folks just suspect of being suspicious by, well, any member of the group. The photo has no caption in the group, no explanation, no contextualization. Just a photo of a person, pegged for being in the public.

Even its admins are unbothered, sharing pictures of unknowing humans within a private social media group, complete with life-affirming comments like, “Showing a little leg.”

The practice of randomly photographing people in public is so common in the group that it’s often done out of cars, even in inclement weather; in fact, one would think that the shitty weather they photograph these folks experiencing with no roofs would expound on their horrible situation but for some reason proves to further the photographer’s need for advertising their situation.

After one man pleaded for a prayer for Skid Row for the evening, one woman theorized—much like the man from Orange County that couldn’t believe there was such a thing as homeless people—that they will be “coming to San Pedro soon” because there is nothing being done about the situation.

The group’s vitriol is so bad that a Saving San Pedro from Saving San Pedro group has been created, where members tell of why they were booted from the original group—usually for expressing concerns about compassion, sympathy, and concrete knowledge regarding the homeless crisis.

Here’s how Nick Hernandez broke down his perturbing experience:

There’s really not more to say other than we can be better, folks. Yes, there is a crisis—but that does not excuse torment, harassment, or outright hatred. There’s a better way to do this, especially if you’re really wanting to save a place.

Editor’s note: Mr. Randy Vernon claims his photo is of a thief suspect, not of someone experiencing homelessness.

80 Comments

Denise says:October 31, 2017 at 9:04 am

Hey Brian,

Why don’t you come and actually talk to people who are part of the community and not some guy living in Glendale. Conduct some actual journalism and find out how the homeless are harassing the community, robbing them and literally shitting on their properties. They refuse help and then the community is stuck with cleaning up their dirty needles.

That’s right Joe, I’m four years clean and loving life. Nice car, nice job. I’ve been through hell and back. And it’s your attitude that Brian is talking about . Your a sad man and I feel sorry for you.

PBinLostAngeles says:October 31, 2017 at 1:49 pm

There are a lot of people – many with nothing but genuinely good intentions – who believe that working in a homeless shelter, providing “tiny houses”, storage bins, and other such “hand outs” to be “community service” – As if aiding and abetting vagrancy is necessarily a “service”, rather than a disservice to the community. It is readily apparent in San Pedro that more and more homeless people are not working and with ever increasing numbers, hanging out on the streets. The facts are, that these people urinate, defecate, engage in sexual activity, aggressively panhandle passersby on the sidewalks and elsewhere, leave narcotics needles, trash, food, and other waste not only in our streets, alleyways, and on sidewalks, but in the parks where our children play; does this make San Pedro better off?
The responsible taxpayers in the community who not only value, but seek to protect their investments in home, hearth, family, and security cannot – and should not – be asked to compromise these values, much less be admonished, criticized, and or ridiculed for voicing and standing up for not only enforcement of the letter of the law, but common decency!
While I in now way, shape, or form endorse nor encourage any degree of vigilantism, when elected and or appointed officials fail to protect the law abiding tax payer, I understand.
The most definitive study on the homeless population conducted to date – funded by the National Institute of Mental Health – unequivocally demonstrated that only about one-third of the homeless population was mentally ill, further demonstrating that a diverse group of people experienced homelessness. This research program set the bar for a generation of research and policy, characterizing homelessness as primarily an INDIVIDUAL- level problem. Essentially, most homeless people make poor personal, professional, and or relationship/association decisions or choices. These are of course PERSONAL choices on the part of the individual, as opposed to some sort of “sentence” or “excommunication” by an uncaring, insensitive general populace; to the contrary!
The majority – fully two-thirds – of those within the study group interviewed, indicated that family and friends had repeatedly – not only offered – but PROVIDED housing,
intervention, and assistance only to be rejected – and or stolen from – to the point the loved one gave up, severing contact with the homeless person as a result of some type of addiction coupled with an unwillingness to seek out, much less, accept assistance.

Professional Shit Stirrer indeed. I realize this is your opinion and obviously you are entitled to it but I’m curious – why the Saving San Pedro Facebook page?
I want to make it clear that I do not agree with all of what is being said, done or condoned on the SSP page at all but what is happening in the SSP page isn’t uncommon. I live in Long Beach, grew up in San Pedro and currently work in San Pedro and I have to say that there are pockets of long beach that are no friendlier to those “experiencing homelessness.” The next door app and the Long Beach, Calif. Page on FB are bombarded daily with similar rants, raves and vigilantism. So again, my question to you, why pick on the city “next door” to yours oppose to calling out your fellow Long Beach folks first? Or maybe, instead of just bashing folks (the same thing you accused the SSP page of doing) come up with a solution or two.
As I said earlier – I grew up in San Pedro and it’s really sad to see what is currently happening in the area and I understand the frustration that my once community is going through. San Pedroens are family oriented people with deep rooted culture and pride and all they are trying to do is raise their children in a safe and healthy environment – the way most of them were raised, in the very neighborhoods they are now trying to protect and gain control over. Is every approach correct…absolutely not…but you can’t ALWAYS fault them for trying.

Denise speaks the truth. Maybe when Brian starts documenting how Long Beach services literally dump their homeless in San Pedro and leave them to fend for themselves or for our community to do what their liberal faux community pretends to. They keep a few for photo opportunities, and drop off their worst problems over here along Cabrillo and Grand to avoid being seen – except nothing happens in this town unnoticed! THAT is what SSP is all about – accountability! Go back to sipping on your cappuccino with a lemon twist at the LB corner coffee shop while my SSP friends take on the real issues affecting our community!

The homeless do not harass the community at all. In fact it’s the other way around. And I guarantee there are more “housed” people out here robbing the community than homeless & more “housed” people drunk from partying all night & can’t find a open bathroom that are shitting in yards and the ones leaving needles around probably came from your own home or your neighbors home or your best friends home because they can’t or don’t do it in their own homes and just toss that shit thinking they won’t get caught but I’ve seen many people drive thru the homeless areas looking for drugs and actually doing drugs and littering the streets as they drive back to their cozy home. As for refusing help, how would you know the homeless refuse help? Do you realize how many women with children & whole families too there are who are priority when services are available? Have u ever actually come out & cleaned up the streets in a homeless area? If you have than you would know the streets of San Pedro, especially a homeless area, are cleaner than most alleys of Pedro’s finest.

Sorry but plenty of the homeless in San Pedro do harass the community, cursing at you, defecating in front of our back door, parking space covered in poop and flies swarming. We are also concerned for their well being but our safety and our children’s comes first. You cannot allow tghe mentally ill and the drug users to run the show. That isn’t what empathy means.

Anne Taylor you are wrong. Homeless folks living around the Post Office have harrassed me on several occasions. I’ve been aggressively barked at while getting out of my vehicle walking to the door with packages in my hands. I was told I’d better lock my doors fast upon returning to my car. At no time did I have a phone/camera in hand to take pictures of anyone. Homeless around San Pedro are harassing people, becoming more aggressive and they are frightening folks that are just trying to do their daily stuff around town.

Brian, thank you for the article. The group started out as positive talk about how to deal with the homeless situation and community awairness. Now it’s become complaining about a Taco truck on a street that has never had one before or a kids smoking marijuana on a bench. Since the administrators do not set boundaries on the site, people are free to bash people who they feel don’t belong in San Pedro. You get kicked out of the groupif you disagree with the two administrators but are celebrated if you bash the homeless. I too am fed up with the homeless situation in San Pedro but there has to be a better why than being part of that group

You guys spoke for yourself! Why would he reach out to you when you SPOKE FOR YOURSELF? Honestly. In an OPINION PIECE!?!? Nope. He has no obligation to contact you so you can sound like you’re a decent human being. These posts are DISGUSTING. You should honestly be ashamed of yourself.

Hey Dipshit – The photo I posted on SSP isn’t even of a homeless person. It was of a skateboarder in Peck Park who had just robbed a CVS nearby and eluded police. We photographed him and he was later arrested by LAPD. Get your facts straight, you hack.

I’m glad you got too see what goes into that group! Those people are terrible people with no souls. They post pictures without consent and bash them in the internet. Isn’t that concerned bulling? All those people need to be reprimanded! If they don’t like what you say, they will contact the administrator (which is no better) and they will kick you out the group! They like to go back and fourth causing nothing but problems and escalating everything into something it should never become. It’s disgusting that these people from my community act the way they do. They act like they were born high on the hog with wealth! More than half these people struggle just like anyone else but I guess they keep there skeletons in their own closet to be avoiding judge so they rather put others down in the community!

Jesus what a load of self-sanctimonious crap of an article. As someone who’s been published in scientific journals and written op-eds…this one isn’t even good, the guy is blinded by rage and blatant lies. Compassion for the homeless, especially those that have mental health issues. I’m a pretty progressive guy, however I want to protect my family and property. My post about the altercation with the man breaking in did not receive a mention and it was a big post here. There’s a reason he left it out, and it’s unprofessional. If he wants us to increase altruism he’s not going to accomplish his goal by antagonising from a high horse. I respectfully denounce your use of specific anecdotes to suit your agenda. Another op-ed that’s basically an attempt at doxxing to shame people, well shame on you sir.

Thanks to this article I learned about Saving San Pedro. I’m happy to find a group that finally exposes these scammers under the title of a “Homeless” person. Keep up the good work Saving San Pedro we will start a group just like this one in our community!

Most of the transients have stolen our bicycles, harass our female community, physically attack with baseball bats residents and sell drugs next to our homes. To make things worse, homeless enablers come to our community give out everything that they needs to stay comfortable another day.

Thanks Saving San Pedro for exposing the true! Keep up the good work!

For the people that want to help the homeless donate to a shelter or volunteer at a shelter. No one in these country will die of hunger. Heck where I come from ( Mexico), the homeless actually work or else they DO die of hunger. Here, everything is handled to them.

There’s different sides to the homeless situation in San Pedro, regrettably you’ve missed the part where the street people you’re pitying resist help of any sort for housing and services to help them regain their footing as contributing members of any community.
The rampant theft, burglary, drug abuse, random a costing of unwary pedestrians, all emanating from the downtown area where our old main post office is.
Last night a gal who’s been taken away by the police several times for screaming and shouting into the sky at no one was back last night with 2 new male companions in the bedroom community at Pacific Ave & 38th Sts. Screaming & approaching people walking to and from the corner store and cafe next door, angry at being ignored, angry at the world.
This’s what we deal with when the transients fan out from downtown to hang out at the beach and coastal parks.
There’s 7 LAPD officers assigned to our city but rarely do they make it to stop the burglars who filter from the beach and park thru the neighborhoods, bent on robbing and assaulting residents.
You’ve fallen into what you feel is journalistic gold by commenting about a Facebook page started by people who got tired of the aggressive panhandlers posted up at the end of the freeway, at the heinous behavior residents were and still are experiencing from people who’re more interested in living off stolen community resources than doing well for themselves by work and responsible living.
Our community throughout from the coast to Miralest Dr on to Palos Verdes Drive is plagued by transient, gang and goon oriented crime and you’re focusing on the results of provoked reactions by unrelenting criminal actions against the residents, shaming the people for the causes that provoked their reactions.
You’re to be congratulated for showing how a good story isn’t done, one sided and biased and without references.
People may not agree with each other about what to do in rehousing those who want it or relocating those who prefer living by robbery and assault but all agree that homeless people don’t need to be bussed here, dropped off by the Sheriffs from off The Hill or brought in with others in motorhomes after being kicked out of another cities.
Thank you for publishing an article that’s loaded with prejudiced ignorance.
Certainly the people you’ve glibly been offensive about would welcome talking to you.

LOL. I agreed with the pettiness and pathetic aspects of this story’s view on the Facebook page and was immediately responded to with “GTFO” and deleted/banned from the group. Can we say spot on story? I literally joined that group to keep up with the crime in my neighborhood and goings on….not to see homeless faces splashed all over my timeline with NO ONE [zero people] offering support or a helpful idea. Just a bunch of hateful people with their noses in the air. It’s cool though, I guess I can’t keep up with crime, keep an eye out and spread the word anymore. ::shrug::

As a resident and member of the page saving San Pedro I will say it does go both ways. Like all of America people have the right to say what they want. The page isn’t intended to bash but to make neighbors aware. Yes there are some negative people on their who will say some not nice things. But I will say that as a mother of 3 in the city of San Pedro the homeless issues is beyond horrible. Over 90% percent of the homeless population in this city is drug addicts who have used way to much. They are using the restroom in the middle of the street , on sidewalks, and in front of elementary schools. My car has had rocks thrown at it while driving by the homeless because they are simply high. They are have butt nake sex on our main street sidewalk where everyone including kid’s can see. My kids cant play out side because there is human waste everywhere along with neddles. And i live in a nice area in town. I help those in need don’t get me wrong. But spend an hour driving or walking on this city only main street and then write about it.

Saving San Pedro is is full of bigotry and trashy people. Also Bay City’s Crime watch is crap as well. Great article! Hopefully we can spotlight this type of behavior and force these bigots back into there dark dank hole.

What a scumbag to write an article like this about a town you know nothing of. All these homeless people come from long beach, your city loads busses of them in fake belief of aid and food and leaves them here, our home, not yours. Hope you feel the hate, you fuckin prick

This group is the frontline against growing crime, blight, and drug addicts that are ruining their city. Why did you focus on the homeless? Anyone who is homeless and has reached out for help, this group has responded 24/7 and gotten them help again and again and again and again with an outpouring of compassion. The problem is the growing number of addicts that don’t want help, and want to ruin their beautiful city – defecating on the streets, espousing themselve, walking in the middle of busy thoroughfares, doing drugs at the library, sleeping in the doorway of struggling storefronts, stealing liquor from stores unchallenged, starting fires, breaking into cars, stealing cars, work trucks, tools, bikes, Mail, and packages from front steps. Not to mention the panhandling going on everywhere everyday. They work closely with community officers and are responsible for information that has led to the solving of crimes. These good folks are the front line and will not stand for what is happening all around them. As with everything on Facebook, if you don’t like it, don’t follow or troll.

One of the founding members I’m not sure if he’s an admin or not put a IV drug user in a job of caretaking for an elderly couple as a live in even though when he interviewed the guy he asked the guy why was he acting like tweaker and the guy responded oh that’s just the way I am and that was all he needed to say to convince this person that he was okay for this job. Well the guy is a hot headed Snapper who should not be around elderly people at all, he does not appreciate the job, pictures and complains daily about how mistreated he is by the lady and how she is such a b****. He yells at them, demands a lot and continues to do his using in their home.
So basically what I’m trying to say is they really don’t or are not qualified to label anybody especially if they do not have proof of what they are accusing them of. I honestly I’m constantly going out of my way to do everything just perfectly because I am homeless I try not to do anything that will get me put us in a bad light on that group because the last thing I want is my picture posted up accused of any wrongdoing whatsoever because I don’t do those things I respect people, but just because I do not live under a roof yet after 4 years of being out here I’m no better than the next scumbag homeless person that they so violently claim should go away. I certainly hope that with my newly awarded Section 8 I can get off these streets soon because if the real creeps out here don’t get me, SSP will.
No need to block me from the group I’m Leaving On My Own thank you very much.
Wonderful article by the way thank you very much

Haha little did I know I was already kicked off before I wrote this because I stated that I was very concerned for my safety with all the threatenings of violence against us homeless as a whole regardless of our Behavior. Well goodbye good riddance to bad rubbish I’m tired of listening to them b**** anyways

It seems that you are trying to good in this world and I respect your efforts . Your editorial was an opinion piece and you have a right to your opinion, I respect that as well. I am not here to pass judgement, however, I would like to share my opinion as you have done. I am a member of SSP as well as other community FB pages dedicated to San Pedro. I also lived in DTLB for years prior to moving to SP.

I am not an Admin, but I think I can speak to the fact that SSP was conceived to create a safer environment for our community, especially for our children. The good that SSP has done FAR outweighs what some perceive as bashing or kicking unfortunate homeless when they are down. The fact is that SSP has helped many people off the streets. Look for posts from people who have ACTUALLY asked for help. There are all sorts of offers, and a great deal of generosity and sympathy for these folks. As a matter of fact, many SSP members have been homeless themselves. The page has also resulted in the arrests of many criminals who plague our community, making it a safer place.

Here is the key point that most people do not realize as they practice armchair altruism. The homeless in San Pedro are NOT “experiencing” homelessness. They are CHOOSING to live this way. I encourage you to take a look at this recent article from the OC Register. Orange County Sheriffs have been dealing with a massive homeless encampment along the Santa Ana River. At any given time there are over 400 people camped out. Drugs, assaults, robbery, murder, rape etc are common place. Crimes throughout the adjacent community have skyrocketed. Out of the 1,093 contacts made with the homeless by OCSD outreach, 910 refused help. That is 90% of the population, 910 out of 1000 who CHOOSE to experience homelessness. Wow. Additionally over 180 of these 1000 people were arrested for crimes such as sex offenses, robbery, drug possession, domestic violence, or violating probation or parole. That is close to 20% of the population, and they are just the ones that OCSD was able to apprehend. I guarantee you that the criminal rate is much higher. In my opinion, the element in San Pedro is far worse than that along the Santa Ana River. These people are VAGRANTS, they are not experiencing anything less than what they choose for themselves. Our homes and cars are being broken into, people shoot up in the alleys behind our homes, there is trash and human feces on our sidewalks, and there are many parts of town where people are afraid or uncomfortable to walk. I had to have one woman arrested who stole items from my basement, she was shooting up there as well, AND she was 6 months pregnant! The house we bought had been vacant for a few months, I still find needles and crack pipes tucked away in hidden places.

I am one of those people who take pictures of these people and happily post them. I will continue to do so because that is one of the few ways we can fight this scourge and take back our community. Law enforcements hands are tied, thanks to ridiculous laws and policies that protect a vagrant’s rights over honest, hard working, tax paying citizens. I for one want to know who these people are that are invading my community, and identify them when they commit a property crime, or rub their genitals as 10 year old children are walking by, or identify that stolen bike ripped off the night before. This is nothing like Long Beach, it is far worse. If you chose to act like this in my neighborhood, shoot up in broad daylight, shit on my sidewalks, steal my property, and scare my children, I have zero sympathy for calling you out in a public forum. If you are someone who genuinely wants and needs help to turn their life around, then I encourage them to post on SSP. They will see a caring community willing to help. Otherwise, there is no place for them here, and any level of criticism or judgement directed towards me or SSP just serves to solidify our resolve even more to get these criminal, vagrants, and addicts, out of our beautiful town.

In the meantime, I encourage people to open their minds to what really is happening and do some REAL research before making snap judgements. Bryan, what would you do differently in the same circumstances?

SSP are people fed up with their community being used as a dumping ground for other cities’ and states’ socioeconomic problems. Go to Gaffey St. and see drugged out people at all hours or go to Peck Park and see the encampments.

Thank you Brian Addison for saying what some of us feel about the saving San Pedro page. The inbred fat lady who runs the page Joann rallo is a complete moron who thinks she is entitled to say whatever she feels and uses the page as she pleases. She allows the homeless and drug addict bashing content and god forbid anyone disagrees with joanne they get blocked or kicked off the page. No one is allowed to do agree with her or anyone who has a different opinion from her. Her trashy content is distasteful, rude, offensive, and she has a twisted sense of her own affluence. The whole page just shows how San Pedro is full of overpaid uneducated entitled assholes who wouldn’t dare let anyone take their inventory, yet stand in judgement of anyone who sets foot on the San Pedro turf, homeless or not. They do not aim to better the community, they only put others down and publicly humiliate them. Shame on joann rallo and the others who do this on that page!!!

“Anonymous” – THAT’S professional!
Tell ya what “Anonymous” some night at a respectfully safe hour of the evening – say between 7:30 PM and 9:00 PM – take a little stroll along the sidewalk on the east side of Palos Verdes Street, between 8th and 10th Streets, then tell us how “trashy” the SSP content is.
Further, when those on the Left aren’t admonishing the rest of us to be “vicl” in discussion political, socioeconomic, or cultural, they’re busy letting loose insults and slurs against those who dare to disagree with their “saviors-of-the-less-fortunate” ideology. I challenge you, take that walk on OV street between 8th and 10th, then tall us how screwed up WE are….

So taking the picture out of context that I posted Brain, what a great example of journalism. These pictures are not about “homelessness” because it is not a crime to be homeless. The pictures are about the crimes the homeless are committing in our town, The picture(s) I posted were given to me and taken by the property management of a bank owned property in my neighborhood watch area. We were asked to keep an eye out for this individual in our neighborhood as part of a court case. This individual in the picture was a squatter in a bank owned building for 18 months and was committing fraud in court with his lies to the judge. The pictures were not about homelessness they were about proving to the judge about how able body this individual was, parallel it to, an individual who is committing disability fraud and they send people out to take pictures of their activity to prove the case is a fraud.

Would you please be kind enough to come over and clean up the human feces, urine, used condoms, used needles and trash from my front yard?

While you are het, wiuld you mind telling my girls why they are no linger allowed to put there beach chairs in the front yard undet the shade of the trees?

Would you mind escorting me to & from my front door so as i am not fearful of the vagrants (not truly homeless as these are thugs that refuse assistsnce) thst yell obscenities for disturbing them…spit on me…chase me?

Many folks on SSP have walked our streets, handing out trifolds showing resources & contact info for services to assist the TRULY homeless. We have vey, very few Veterans on our streets…but many that lie claimung they are. I have found 3 actual homeless Veterans…2 of whom are now under the care of the VA, with the 3rd refusing.

Yes, there are some rude, vulgar folks on SSP….but most of us are there to help those who want help, keep our community safe, protect our children.

By the way, as you are concerned about the plight of the “homeless” in San Pedro…would you mind picking up the ones that Long Beach dumped here…protecting them from SSP?

Great article! This is great exposure to the hypocrisy of this group. Did they start off with good intentions? Yes. Have they done some good in the past? Yes. This group was great from the start and now has transformed into a hate group which is ran by people who want to push their own agendas rather than continue with the good the group once was. The group does have some good in it but it is often times overshadowed by all the hate that is constantly being pushed through. They like to remind everyone of all the good they have done yet as of recently nothing good has been done especially involving the homeless problem San Pedro faces. The last massive rally that was pushed by the admins was for the removal of saying the Pledge of Allegiance at meetings. Really? Rather than getting people together for street clean ups, rallying people to help get the homeless help, or just bringing people together for something that actually Saves San Pedro, they rather rally people together for that battle instead?

The group has a cult mentality of either you are with them or against them and if you are against them, you are often called out publicly and they try to humiliate you in front of your neighbors and peers. When you are constantly complaining about how everyone is against your group then maybe you should take a step back and see it might be the group that is the problem rather than everyone just banding together to “hate” on it. Your group has so many issues with everyone because of how you hold yourself, how you treat others, and the content within the group. The fact is 90% of the people in the 8k plus group are inactive. only about 10% of people are actually active and majority of them are the ones posting about hating on the homeless and bashing “SJWs” for anything that doesn’t fall in line with their opinion.

Again glad this groups hate is being brought to light. It was something of a beacon of hope but recently it has turned into a homeless bashing group that masquerades as a group that wants to help. You are not Saving San Pedro. You are Breeding Hate in San Pedro. I highly encourage the admins to take a step back and really look at what the group has become. Its now a fear mongering cult that thrives on mostly hate. Again, it does have some good still left but its overshadowed by negative and hateful posts. People in the group will try to justify they are showing the crimes the “homeless” are committing but as you can see from your examples and other numerous posts in the group, the only crime they are “guilty” of is just being homeless often times. They do have a really bad issue with crime and drugs in the city but instead of getting rallies started, garnering media attention, or showing up to meetings that could help the city, they much rather tag people, post pictures, and wallow in there own hate. Numerous things can be done to grab attention to the issues San Pedro faces yet instead they much rather complain about it on Facebook than do anything.

I’m a Untied States Marine Corps disabled Vet I-3/11. I was classified By the VA as chronically homeless (12+ months) I know that street life. Growing up in S.Central L.A. in the 90s was no joke. Eating, sitting on the floor so we don’t get hit by a stray bullet, being gang affiliated, I went through it all. But I grew up and did something about it…instead of keeping up with the street life I took that oath of defending my country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. After I got hurt in the service, my time was over and had to live a “normal” civilian life. I did good until the job I had for almost 8yrs was being moved to Kansas. Things fell apart and I ended up back on the streets of L.A. I chose not to be one of those vets standing on the corner, it took all that I have and support to keep my head up, I even wanted to give up completely and came close to ending my life. But I stuck with the programs, was beyond patient and now I have a new start on life with my kids and family. And am a resident of San Pedro. Yeah at first I thought the same thing about SSP, BUT living here I want to know where NOT to be with my kids, ’cause I’ll be damn if I come across a vagrant shooting up or taking a crap in a park where my 2yr old is playing, so where others say it’s bashing, I see it as informative. What about the positive post? I didn’t read anything on that. If you’re going to inform your readers, tell the pros also and not just the cons

I just read on the San Pedro,CA page that a SSP member and SP business owner cussed out another SP business owner because the owner cleaned up feces in front of his business? WTF so apparently they don’t even care about each other’s businesses. Like seriously! Sorry but as a SP resident and active Community member I’m thoroughly disgusted by their actions.

The most disturbing thing on SSP is when they post pictures of middle or high school students they “claim” have committed some type of crime. Some have the audacity to say that school staff have helped them identify these students (which would be a huge student privacy violation that would get said staff member fired if reported).

Also, they made the decision to live in San Pedro (and knew the police department that went along with it). I live in downtown LB and the police have been very responsive to the type of situations they describe (property crimes, trespassing, harassment, etc.) when my neighbors and I have called.

That’s ignorant as hell, many people in San Pedro grew up here, or bought a home years ago before it started looking like the zombie apocalypse.
And good for you that the city of Long Beach has the police staff to attend to your needs. San Pedro is part of Los Angeles and does not have it’s own police department. We’ve been told time and time again there aren’t enough officers to staff our brand new jail.
Ever called the police and been told there’s nothing they can do about a drunk driver? A hit and run? Stolen property? It must be so nice over there in your ivory tower, why don’t you keep your business there.

Your response Rae is so typical of those SSP members that we are referring to. You just proved the author’s point.
“It must be so nice over there in your ivory tower, why don’t you keep your business there.”
You guys would always seem to forget that people who do care about San Pedro may not live in San Pedro – but they may work there or own a business there or have family members who live there. Such the mentality and nasty remarks made by the typical SSP members referred to in this discussion.

The 2 teen females committed a federal crime and were caught on camera. By viral sharing, the parents were found and notified 6 hours later. Both parents took their kids to the police deparment where I’m sure they got the scare of their life. If they didn’t want to be photographed, they shouldnt have committed a federal crime by stealing someone’s mail on private property in which they did not live. It was SSP that caught the girls and made sure there was consequences, working with police.

It appears that some may have missed the point of this article. It’s NOT ABOUT THE HOMELESS ISSUE. It’s about the FB page Saving San Pedro and the hatred and the vitriolic criticism spewed by the members of the group. The authored plenty enough proof of the type of platform that SSP provides for these “like-minded people” [who walk and talk the same] and whose admins boot people off usually for expressing concerns about compassion, sympathy, and concrete knowledge regarding the homeless crisis (or other reasons).

I for one was booted off a couple of years ago for questioning their 501(c) status …. I have no idea if they obtained it or not to date – however, I found it interesting that someone mentioned above that they still don’t have a 501(c) status.

No doubt there are some troubled people in San Pedro, as there are in many neighborhoods. However I thought Saving San Pedro was a good thing.. like most of us did at first. BUT God forbid you have your own opinions and your own thoughts the admin.. not both Joanne to be exact with tell you exactly that you do not belong on “Her” group. I’ve never had a problem with George .. he’s always been a real genuine guy. But need less to say I was kicked out of the group page because Joanne didn’t like my opinion. And with that being said I feel like the group has lost its focus and become full of a bunch of bullies behind keyboards. One example.. there was a rally organized at LAPD Harbor Division demanding more police presence.. which I understand… however the same people demanding that presence will post and give heads up to people about police out giving tickets to those speeding and whatever the case maybe. So seems kinda hypocritical to want police presence but just not for them.

I too spoke out against the way homeless people were being bashed, made fun of, photographed, etc. and there was instant harassment and high-school level (being generous) bullying. Do I think some of the people on that page care? Maybe a handful, but for the most part, it’s a place for people to gather and be hateful. I rarely read of people making or trying to make a difference. I left that page because it’s a joke and flies in the face of the true meaning of community. It also makes the city look terrible, and it’s embarrassing to know I live in the same place as these people. You can tell by the visceral and immature reactions on this article who all is a member of the page. They stick out like a sore thumb and are only making themselves look foolish. Posting pictures and making fun of homeless people doesn’t make you a hero or an activist, it makes you a trashy human being. If you don’t want to be called out for being online/arm chair bullies, then act like decent people. It’s not hard.

Im a member of SSP and I do community cleanups, cleanup leftover homeless encampments, donate to all the organizations that are legitimate and actually feed and clothe the homeless, I personally walk the encampments passing out trash bags. I volunteer and donate my time and my children during the holidays feeding the homeless at a mission or beacon house, ive donated more of my time helping the TRULY HOMELESS NOT the addicts than most keyboard warriors on FB What you say about “The Group” is insulting. There are people on the page that say things you term mean but no excuse to insult good people…….. so a blanket statement about the over 5,000 members on that page is just ignorant, to say the least…..

If I am to make sense of your comments you now say all 5000 plus members make comments of hatred about homeless………I am a member of SSP and work with many good people who do wonderful things to help those WHO TRULY want help to get off the streets help. If you want a hand up not just a hand out there are members of SSP that will go out of their way to help people. Comments/actions of a few do not justify calling the entire group of people homeless haters….but you all speak of hatred and then come on here and spew hatred, its quite comical

I was homeless, worked my way up, put two boys through college, there is no excuse for people to be rude and live in squalor no matter your status in life. , I did not live on the streets in the open and cause problems to the people and community members trying to help me. Poop and pee in parking lots in front of children, sit on the corner shooting up as school children walk by.
No one helped me BTW I just had enough and figured it out.

All I am trying to express is that a blanket statement on ALL of the members of SSP by the comments and actions of sum is….well just wrong.

Your member count of 5000 doesn’t’ mean a thing, Cathy. It’s just a number. Having clicked and joined your group doesn’t mean they ALL agree with the group’s ideology. It’s just a number. Sorry that you can’t block me like you can on FB.
What I’m finding out from this article is that SSP hasn’t changed at all. THANK YOU, SSP, FOR BLOCKING ME. I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL!!!!

Sorry that you had a mishap with SSP and have your issues, I, on the other hand, have not had the same issues. We are both entitled to our own opinions. If you’re truly glad to be blocked move on find something else to do than bashing them…..then you stoop to the level you accuse them of?

I love people who claim to be followers of God as they are spewing hate….

Thank you for my daily laugh!!

Janet Spencer says:November 2, 2017 at 8:24 am

Cathy? Who is claiming to be a follower of God and spewing hate? Tell me, please.

WhatARoleModel says:November 1, 2017 at 8:02 pm

Isnt that chick Joanna from Rancho Palos Verde. Shes not even from pedro. She just wants to be. She is a cyber bully. If you look up cyber bully in yhe dictionary her pictures right there. Round of applause … Lets teach the youth of san pedro how to make people feel like shit …. Then laugh at them. Call them names… Have other people from the same town shes not from disrespect and down people who eother never get a chance to defend themselves or dpnt even know whats going on. Great job Joanna. I hope you are happy that you helped shape some peoples perceptions of themselves after being attacked by your little clan.